* The recent attempted lynch in Jerusalem which involved minors has led the Israeli Knesset to initiate a move that would place criminal liability on the parents of minors whose children get mixed up in criminal activity. According to the bill parents of children who are caught in possession of sharp objects like knives or penknives could receive a one month prison sentence or a fine of up to NIS 21,000 ($5,200).

* Knesset speaker Rivlin visits J'lem lynch victim in hospital, apologizes and says incident cannot be treated as isolated event of racism towards Arabs- 'This is a micro cosmos of a national problem'

* Arab teen who was brutally attacked by Jewish teens released from hospital, says 'not afraid to return to Zion Square'.


The recent attempted lynch in Jerusalem which involved minors has led the Knesset to initiate a move that would place criminal liability on the parents of minors whose children get mixed up in criminal activity.

The initiative broadens the scope of an existing law initiated by Labor and Welfare Committee Chairman Haim Katz (Likud) according to which parents of children who are caught in possession of sharp objects like knives or penknives could receive a one month prison sentence or a fine of up to NIS 21,000 ($5,200).

Now, in light of the brutal attempted lynch in Jerusalem last week, Katz has decided to seek Knesset support to broaden the bill so that criminal liability for violence or criminal acts carried out by minors be placed on the perpatrator's parents – including prosecution and sentencing.


According to Katz, the parents will be indicted if it is proven that they could have prevented the act had they supervised their children.

MKs will have to decide on the age issue: Will they be liable for all minors under the age of 18 or will 16 suffice.


Moreover they will have to determine exact definitions for the factors responsible for examining whether the parents were neglectful of their role or whether they fulfilled it suitably and whether they are liable for their children's criminal activity.

"It is inconceivable that Israel's streets become dangerous simply because the parents remain unaware of their children's actions," said Katz. "In light of the awful incident in Jerusalem, we must implement a comprehensive and uncompromising constitutional step in order to defeat the violent trend."


Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin arrived at the Hadassah Ein KeremMedical Center on Thursday to visit the Arab teen who was injured in a near lynch carried out by Jewish teens in Jerusalem's Zion Square last Thursday.


Rivlin apologized to the teen and told him that it was clear that his was not an isolated incident of racism towards Arabs; rather it is a worrying phenomenon in Israeli society.



"I don’t remember anything from the incident, and I have no idea what everyone is talking about," the Arab teenager who was brutally assaulted by Jewish youths in Jerusalem's Zion Square last week said Thursday after being released from Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center.

"All I remember is that I went shopping for clothes for the holiday and then woke up at the hospital," said the victim, a resident of east Jerusalem.

The teen learned the details of the attack from the media and from people who visited him at the hospital. "I am not afraid of going downtown. I will continue to visit the Zion Square area - where I was attacked. I plan to live my life as usual; I didn’t harm anyone," he said.


The teen's parents, who have six other children, said he would begin the school year as planned. "I won’t allow my children to walk around the (Zion Square) area. They are not looking to take their revenge or beat anyone up. All we want is for our son to meet his younger brothers. They haven't seen each other in a week.


The victim's father also addressed the remarks made by one of the main suspects, who said during a court hearing, "He (victim) could die for all I care, he's an Arab."

"I read all about it. Parents who claim that their children like Arabs are lying. A person who respects others does not behave in this manner. I have no doubt that the (Jewish teens) attacked my son only because he is Arab – this is how they were raised," the father said.



http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4272304,00.html

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4272224,00.html

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4272366,00.html



Photos: Two of the lynch suspects are under arrest, Knesset speaker Rivlin visits the lynch Arab victim